Cold Lake, AB – Plans for building an Aquatic Centre continue, as the City of Cold Lake applies for the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada - Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program grant in the amount of $47,375,000.

“The community has been asking for a pool for a very long time,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “It’s a big and expensive undertaking, so we’ve been taking care with every step to make sure the right people are being consulted, and the money is set aside.”

Although this funding would cover a large amount of the expenses associated with building an Aquatics Centre, it is still only a portion of the $93 million estimated to complete the project.

The most recent expansion of the Energy Centre in 2019, which included the Cenovus Energy Arena, climbing wall, lounge, and additional meeting and office spaces, was created with additional expansion in mind.

The next step is the Aquatic Centre Concept Design Report, which defines the high-level programming requirements; reviews aquatics systems; identifies connectivity requirements to the building; and establishes realistic capital and operating budgets for Council and Administration to make an informed decision moving forward.

Included in the expansion plans are:

• The Natatorium, which includes: Lane pool with movable floor and deep end to facilitate two 1.0m springboards, leisure pool with zero-entry zone, waterslide, whirlpool, and lazy river.
• Administrative and aquatics facility support spaces
• Public and staff change rooms
• Connectivity to existing Energy Centre concourse
• Improved connectivity to existing and future parking fields
• Future second floor shell development space

With the Aquatic Centre expansion, the City is also working on connection options for the proposed Lakeland Catholic School Division - Highschool at Imperial Park/Cold Lake Energy Centre.

The proposed Aquatic Centre will create dedicated and consistently accessible programs, rentals, and drop-in opportunities for residents of Cold Lake and the surrounding municipal communities. Subject to funding, the projected timeline for completing the project is 2029.

For more information on the project so far, visit www.coldlake.com/projects

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